NJ Residents Still Feeling Impact Of Saturday Snowstorm

STATE – Thousands of New Jersey residents remain without power as a result of Saturday’s unusual autumn snowstorm. PSE&G advises parents to exercise extreme caution if they allow their children to go trick-or-treating today because of the number of downed wires in areas.

“From a utilities perspective, this cleanup is worse than the cleanup after Irene,” Gov. Chris Christie said this morning.

As of 4 a.m., PSE&G reported that 169,000 customers were still without power, with the highest concentrations in Bergen (73,000), Essex (53,000) and Passaic (13,500) counties. As of Sunday afternoon, 283,000 Jersey Central Power & Light customers were waiting to have power restored. The utility estimates that customers in the hardest-hit areas may not have service restored until Friday.

JCP&L customers who are still experiencing a power outage can get free water and ice at a number of participating stores in northern New Jersey. Visit www.firstenergycorp.com for details.

NJ Transit is also experiencing weather-related service issues. Rail service on the Morris & Essex Lines, including the Gladstone Branch, and the Montclair-Boonton Line remains suspended due to downed trees and overhead wires. Northern New Jersey busses may be subject to detours due to local road conditions. System-wide cross honoring remains in effect.